Flanker Sanderson in Games setback

Pat Sanderson's bid to lead England to Commonwealth Games gold in Manchester has suffered a setback due to a leg injury which has ruled him out of the IRB World Series tournaments in Chile and Argentina next week.

Sanderson, the Harlequins flanker, was due to captain the team for these two key events in the World Series which is acting a as a build-up to the Games in August.

However, he has failed a fitness test and London Wasps scrum-half Mike Friday will take over the captaincy in a squad that includes fellow Wasp Josh Lewsey, the England international full-back.

Saracens supply wing Richard Haughton while Harlequins provide Ben Gollings and Nick Duncombe for the two tournaments in Santiago from 4-5 January and in Mar del Plata from 11-12 January.

Sanderson still has time to get back into the squad and claim the captaincy.

Joe Lydon, the Sevens head coach, expects to use a considerable number of players in the coming months as club matches take their toll on his squad.

Lydon said: "We had some good training sessions at the Penny Hill Park hotel last week. The Chile and Argentina tournaments present us with an excellent opportunity to build on the progress we made in Durban earlier this year where we made the semi-finals.

"It is essential that we continue the momentum we have created as we approach future legs in the series, including Twickenham in May 2002 and ultimately the Commonwealth Games in Manchester.

Meanwhile, Quins coach John Kingston has made it clear that his team have to collect league points early in the New Year or face relegation worries. Kingston, whose team are eighth, said: "We have got a lot of points to pick up. This is a highly-competitive Premiership and we need to make sure we are in a safe position."